Instructional & Information Technology Services (IITS)

Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS) provides services that are essential to a functioning university. Setting up user accounts and configuring desktop systems are only a small part of what we do to fill the diverse needs of Concordia's students, faculty and staff members.

Departments

The Administrative and Training Services group provides a range of integrated IITS services, technology systems, and supports the operation of the IITS department.

Reception & Switchboard

Reception & Switchboard Services provides information and directory assistance to the university community and general public. Their operators respond to inquiries and direct callers or visitors to the appropriate staff, faculty or university resource. Operators also set up, administer and monitor operator-assisted conference calls with multiple parties in various locations, facilitating meetings with IITS staff members.

Administrative

The Administrative Services group facilitates the procurement of goods and services requested by the department, tracks delivery of orders and ensures the timely payment of invoices. They are also responsible for billing and accounting for the services IITS provides the university community.

Training

The IITS Training and Support team helps faculty and staff to effectively use the Moodle system by administering the application itself, delivering instructor-led training, creating and maintaining documentation and advising--over the phone or through individual sessions

The team also helps with the development of Moodle sites in partnership with individual site owners, identifying, technical solutions for the presentation and delivery of course materials. Addressing particularly complex requests may call for a special initiative. Workshops, which are regularly scheduled, are also designed to educate staff and faculty about the technical aspects of Moodle’s features and functions.

The Application Portfolio Management team is made up of the following five development and support groups:

Administrative Systems

Student Systems

Faculty Systems

Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)

Database Administration group

These groups work with the Concordia community to enhance the user experience by creating or improving current application functionality. Each team provides analytic, development, support and project management expertise to their respective areas. They are also responsible for continuously improving service delivery by staying abreast of technological or process-oriented changes and facilitating information access and sharing across the university.

Student Systems

The Student Systems group develops and provides support for various student applications that include:

Web registration

Student accounts

Student transcripts and records

Moodle

Student Information System

Faculty Systems

The Faculty Systems group develops and provides support for all systems that serve faculty needs, including:

The Faculty Resource Information System

Grade entry

Admission reports

Course evaluations

Provotrack

Human Resources Information Systems

The HRIS group manages and supports the Human Resources application and works closely with the HR team to ensure the smooth operation of the HRIS. The group also develops interfaces to and from the HRIS as well as custom screens.

Administrative Systems

The Administrative Systems group develops and supports all systems that serve faculty and staff, except for HRIS. Examples include:

Banner finance

Banner alumni

Millennium

Digital Store systems

Database Administration Group (Quality Assurance)

The Database Administration and Quality Assurance group ensures that all central databases are backed up, optimized and up to date with the latest patches. The group also ensures that source code or database objects are secure and tested before migration to production systems.

The IT Architecture, Security, & Planning group is responsible for the development and maintenance of a university-wide IT strategic plan, IT security governance and control, and IT standardization, including the management of a software license master agreement.

The group represents IITS at all levels of project planning and development as part of the IT strategic plan. This includes the financial plan and governance bodies, providing authoritative advice on current and potential maintenance issues to senior administrators, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the plan to ensure goals and objectives are met and in line with the university’s mission. The group, which stays on top of the latest IT trends, also oversees the development and implementation of initiatives that support the university's strategic direction.

This group performs server systems administration activities in support of academic and administrative functions.

Network Services

The Network Services group is responsible for the University's wired and wireless network infrastructure and security.

Voice Services

The Voice Services group manages and supports telecommunications services within the University. These include telephone, fax, and voicemail services.

Operations & Production Services

Operations & Production Services manages the IITS data centers as well as the systems located in these spaces. Activities include monitoring the environment and security of these specialized facilities and ensuring that these systems are backed up as scheduled. This group also manages the IITS Exam Scoring service.

Quality Services Development

Quality Services Development is focused on developing service and system disaster recovery plans, which includes activities such as testing and improving systems reliability/availability.

IITS User Services comprises the following teams who provide support services to the university community:

Service Desk

The Service Desk team provides first level support by phone, email, or in person (H925) to students, faculty and staff. They identify and resolve technical issues with equipment, wireless access, software, email, web applications, and more. The Service Desk team answers how-to questions, troubleshoots technology-related incidents, and ensures requests are resolved. They also manages the IITS computer labs on the Hall Building's 9th floor.

Service Centres

The multi-disciplinary teams in the Services Centres provide on-site technical assistance and support for equipment installed in classrooms and for faculty and staff computers. They provide consulting services for computer upgrades and manage computer installations. The Service Centres operate 3 service counters in the Hall Building, John Molson School of Business building and Loyola Campus CC building providing 1st line technical support and for equipment loan and rental. They also provide audio visual set-up and technical support for on-campus events held. The Service Centres manage various IITS computer labs that are available for teaching and for open use by students.

Cinemas

IITS Cinemas provides professional technical support and event planning for both the Concordia community and external clients in four venues located on the Sir George Williams Campus (downtown). The team provides support for academic classes, screenings, conferences, film festivals and other multimedia events.

Audio Visual Team

The team of audio-visual specialists provide consultation, design and coordination services on audio visual/ multimedia facilities required during the creation or renewal of classrooms, amphitheaters, conference rooms, research centers or any other areas. They work hand-in-hand with internal project managers and external equipment and service providers to deliver quality environments for professors and departments.